282 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



concerning the technology of the numerous Mexican Oaks, though 

 doubtless their respective values are well known to local artisans. 

 According to the Abbe and Surgeon Liturgie, one of the Mexican 

 Oaks near San Juan nourishes a Bombyx the cocoons of which are 

 spun by the natives into silk (Tschichatchef). 



Quercus Skinneri, Bentham. 



Mexico. The acorns of this Oak measure nearly 6 inches in 

 circumference, and are available for various domestic animals. 



Quercus squamata, Roxburgh. 



One of the tallest of the Himalayan Oaks. Wood lasting. 



Quercus stellata, Wangenheim. 



The Post Oak of North-East America. Content with poor and 

 even sandy soil, but not a large tree. For its very durable and 

 dense wood it is much in requisition there for posts, and is particu- 

 larly highly prized for ship-building, also sought for rail-ties. 



Quercus Suber, Linne.* 



The Cork Oak of South Europe and North Africa; evergreen. It 

 attains an age of fully two hundred years. After about twenty 

 years it can be stripped of its bark every six or seven years; but 

 the best cork is obtained from trees over forty years old. Height 

 of the tree about 40 feet. Acorns of sweetish taste. Mr. Robinson 

 found that young Cork Oaks obtained from the writer made a 

 growth of 4 feet in a year in the humid Western Port district of 

 Victoria. The bark of Q. pseudo-suber (Sant.) is inferior for cork, 

 but the closely-allied Q. occidentalis (Gay), which is hardier than 

 Q. Suber, produces a superior cork-bark. It will thrive even on 

 sand. Its cultivation is rapidly increasing in Algeria. 



Quercus Sundaica, Blume. 



One of the Oaks from the mountains of Java, where several other 

 valuable timber Oaks exist. The existence of Oaks on the higher 

 mountains of New Guinea has been demonstrated by Dr. Beccari ; 

 hence, in all probability, additional valuable evergreen species will 

 be obtainable for our arboreta from thence. 



Quercus Toza, Bosc. 



South Europe. One of the handsomest Oaks, and one of the 

 quickest growth. Will live in sandy soil. It furnishes superior 

 tanners' bark. 



Quercus virens, Linn<k* 



The Live Oak of North America, extending northward only to 

 Virginia, occurring also in Mexico, and perhaps the hardiest of the 



